I was about to tell her the plan.
But before I could speak, my eyes caught someone approaching.
The elf girl from before. Walking toward us. Or rather, toward Celestine.
She had that angry expression on her face. The same one she always wore whenever I was in her line of sight.
But what caught my attention wasn't her.
It was Ms. Gatherer.
She was walking alongside the elf girl. Discussing something with her in hushed tones.
Then her gaze met mine.
Immediately, she averted her eyes. Started walking in the opposite direction. As if she hadn't seen me at all.
"Hey, Ms. Gatherer!" I called out.
"I have a job for you!"
She stopped mid-step.
Stood there for several seconds. Processing. Debating whether to ignore me entirely.
Then, reluctantly, she joined our group. The elf girl had already reached us by then.
"Ms. Gathe... I mean, umm... Fre... Fred... French..."
I snapped my fingers, pretending to search for the name.
"Freya." She sighed.
"That was my next guess." I nodded confidently. "Anyway, I have a deal for you."
Her face remained completely unbothered.
I held up five fingers. "Five gold coins."
No reaction.
I added another finger. "Six."
Nothing.
"Seven." Still nothing.
"Eight. Nine. Ten."
She didn't even blink.
I sighed in defeat. "Fine. You win. Fifty gold coins for just a small piece of work."
Her expression finally shifted. Slightly.
"Are you dragging me into some kind of robbery?" Her voice was cold.
"Because I have told you countless times. I am not a thief."
"It's not robbery." I waved my hand dismissively.
"It's just a simple job."
"What kind of job?"
I pointed at Celestine.
She had been listening to our conversation like a curious child. When I spoke, she looked at me and when Freya spoke then towards her. When I pointed, she looked at herself.
"You just have to keep an eye on her. Make sure she does her task correctly."
Celestine made a confused face. "My task?"
I placed both hands on her shoulders. Leaned in with a charming smile.
"Yes, my pretty princess. I need you for a task that only a smart girl like you can accomplish."
Her face lit up with pride. Chest puffing out.
"Remove your hands from her right now." The elf girl's voice cut through like a blade. "Or I will cut them off."
I removed my hands.
Not because of fear. But because of the momentum. I needed things to flow smoothly right now.
"Listen carefully, my gorgeous princess." I pulled out the two heavy bags of gold.
"I will hand this money over to you."
I pointed toward a booth in the distance.
"And when my fight is going on, you will walk over there. To that betting box."
Her eyes followed my finger.
"Then you give them the money and say: 'I am putting my bet on team number...' and I will tell you which number. Got it?"
She blinked. "Your fight?"
Her eyes widened. "Are you participating?!"
She jumped toward my face. Pouting.
"Did you lie to me?!"
I turned to Freya.
"Now you understand why I said to keep an eye on her."
I gestured at Celestine. "This fool... I mean, this gorgeous lady would destroy my entire plan with her foolishness. She didn't even pay attention to what I just said."
Freya crossed her arms.
"Whatever you're doing is a crime. Betting on yourself is against the rules."
Her voice was matter-of-fact.
"If you're found out, they won't just throw you out. They'll squeeze every piece of wealth you possess."
"Who said I'm betting on myself?"
I smiled. "A princess will be betting for me."
I gestured at Celestine.
"I know they do background checks. But when they see a princess of Aetherion placing bets? They won't dare dig deeper."
I shrugged.
"And even if they do investigate, it won't make sense. This amount of money is pocket change for royalty."
Freya didn't argue further.
"But make sure you stay miles away from her during the process."
I pointed at Freya's face. "Your face looks extremely suspicious. They'll know something's wrong the moment they see you standing nearby."
She clicked her tongue.
"You—"
I cut her off. Turned back to Celestine.
"Celestine, the kind one. Listen very carefully."
I held up my hand. "When I raise my hand like this during the fight only then do you place the bet for me."
I lowered my hand.
"Don't put too much pressure on that small brain of yours, okay?"
She nodded slowly. "You might see me losing. See me defeated. See me bleeding on the ground."
I locked eyes with her.
"But don't do anything stupid until you see the signal."
I turned to Freya. "Please. Just make sure she follows through."
My voice carried authority now. "I'm giving you fifty fuckin gold coins. Remember that."
The elf girl finally spoke up. "So you're dragging Lady Celestine into your mess."
Her voice dripped with contempt. "And worse, what's with that attitude of yours?"
She stepped forward.
"Do you think you're some kind of genius? Some big shot?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Trust me. Your arrogance will shatter the second the Double Duel starts."
I met her glare. "Time will tell."
I tilted my head. "By the way, you're in the competition as well, right?"
She didn't respond.
"What if you face me in the first round?"
I smiled. "Don't expect any mercy from my side don't think I would have pity on you as everything you have is on the line."
I chuckled.
"It would be hilarious. Watching you try to prove your worth to the world after losing your very first match."
Her fist clenched.
She was about to swing at me.
But Freya grabbed her arm. Stopped the punch before it could launch.
"Don't do anything stupid." Freya's voice was firm.
"They'll disqualify you for violence before the tournament even starts."
"But—"
The elf girl's voice cut off. She went silent. Fuming.
Freya released her arm. "Don't think too much about him. He's like that. A bit screwed up in the head."
She glanced at me with disdain.
"What we should really be worried about is his partner. I wonder how they'll endure him and that stupid personality of his."
Celestine suddenly perked up.
"Sister Thalia!" She bounced excitedly.
"Who did you get paired up with?"
Hearing that name.
Thalia.
It rang a bell.
Now that I thought about it, she had mentioned her sister's name before. Back when we first met in the capital.
And the girl at the enquiry box had told me the same name.
The name of my assigned partner.
Could it be...
The elf girl responded to Celestine while turning to Freya.
"Someone from your bloodline, actually."
She shrugged dismissively.
"Some Eren guy."
Freya's head turned toward me.
In slow motion.
Her expression morphing from confusion to realization to absolute horror.
Her jaw dropped.
I had heard correctly.
She was my partner.
The elf bombshell who wanted to cut my hands off just moments ago.
The one whose entire future depended on winning this tournament.
Paired with me.
I looked at Freya's horrified face.
And gave her a victory gesture.
Two fingers raised.
With the biggest smile I could muster.